Regain Your Smell & Taste After COVID-19
Losing the sense of smell and taste has been a commonly reported symptom of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. While most people regain their senses soon after recovering, some people report that their sense of smell and taste still hasn't returned to normal even months after the infection!
If you still haven't gotten your senses back, there are various home remedies and methods you could try. Make sure you practice them everyday (especially in the morning)!
Why does loss of smell or taste happen?
Before we help you regain your senses, let's quickly take a look at why the loss of smell or tastes happens in the first place. It’s not uncommon for respiratory infections such as colds or flu (or COVID-19) to affect our senses of smell and taste. It’s still unclear exactly how a loss of smell and taste happens, but the most common theory is as follows.
When one is sick with a respiratory infection, these nerve cells that are responsible for smell and taste experience inflammation or damage which then impacts your ability to smell or taste. This is the same reason why people who suffer from allergies or neurological conditions might experience loss of smell or taste.
The most effective and easiest ways to regain your sense of smell and taste
1. Lemon and honey water
Not only does lemon and honey in their own rights help to help fight bacterial and viral infections, it makes a delicious drink when mixed in to some warm water. These ingredients help to clear up the nasal passage and infection, thereby relieving inflammation and infection that causes the loss of taste/smell.
Tip: This Raw Eucalyptus Honey is unprocessed and retains all the natural medicinal properties of honey, as well as natural anti-oxidants, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, carbohydrates and phyto-nutrients.
2. Garlic
Garlic provides miracle anti-inflammatory effects, as well as antimicrobial. Add 2 to 3 chopped garlic pods to a cup of water and boil the ingredients in a saucepan. Once the mixture cools down, strain it completely and drink it.
3. Red chili powder
Hot spices such as red chili powder (or even cayenne pepper) may be helpful in regaining your lost sense of smell. Not only does it work to unblock any congestion, it also work directly on the olfactory nerves to help regain the sense of taste or smell.
4. Ginger
The smell and aroma of ginger is strong, and can certainly help in the efforts to help regain your lost senses. Take a piece of peeled ginger and chew it slowly, at least twice per day. If you can’t chew the ginger piece directly, drink ginger tea. Do this every day until your senses have returned.
Tip: You can also use Pure Ginger Essential Oil in to an aroma diffuser to help release the therapeutic benefits of ginger for inhalation.
5. Peppermint
Add peppermint leaves to a cup of water and boil the ingredients in a saucepan. Strain it once it cools down and add some honey to it. Drink it immediately. Peppermint provides an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect which improves your sense of smell and taste.
Tip: Add Pure Peppermint Essential Oil in to an aroma diffuser to help release the therapeutic benefits of peppermint for inhalation.
5. Castor oil
Castor oil has been long used to restore smell/taste loss due to its active component, ricinoleic acid. Ricinoleic acid has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and aids in the fight against infection. Say goodbye to nasal passage swelling and inflammation caused by colds (and allergies, etc.). Warm castor oil on the stove or in the microwave and place 2 drops in each nostril in the morning and evening. Repeat until symptoms subside.
6. Smell training
Smell training is a form of therapy that is used for various disorders affecting smell/taste. It can easily be done at home using only 4 key ingredients:
These four smells work to stimulate the regeneration of the specialised nerve cells involved in smell/taste. Place a few drops of each essential oil in an aroma diffuser and inhale for 6 - 12 weeks, morning and evening.
Have you lost your ability to smell/taste after an infection? Let us know your experience in the comments below!
If you have any health-related questions, please contact us or leave a comment below for FREE advice. We always love hearing from you!
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